Improvement in baskets



UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. CRGOKER AND WALTER Gr. CROOKER, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,740, dated January 20, 1874; application filed August 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JAMES EDWY CRooKER and WALTER GREEN CRooKER, both of the city of Toronto, in the county ot' York, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Baskets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention has reference to a basket which is more durable and stronger than those heretofore constructed, possessing a more ornamental appearance; and it consists in forming a basket (which may be of any desired size and form) of wire-work in such a manner that the Wires composing the same radiate from the center of the basket, and from the bottom hoop to the upper rim of the same, the wires being arranged in groups, and twisted together in parts at regular intervals apart, so as to form meshes or open gures, of any desired pattern; the process of manufacture being .accomplished by forming the basket on a pattern or block of the `desired form of annealed or soft wires, which are coated with a non-corrosive meta-l, or galvanized, by immersing the basket in a molten bath of metal. The invention further consists in combining with a basket having a wire-bottom and outside hoop an additional bottom or supporting-rim of wire-work, which is formed of separate twisted wires attached to the outside hoop of the basket, and to a base-hoop.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a basket constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the bottom of the basket, showing, also, the arrangement of a portion of the wires which form the body of the same.

The form and size of a basket constructed according to our invention are determined by the use' to which it is to. be applied, or as taste may dictate; but, in every instance,

half of the body A, and the entire bottom B,

are carried upward toward the top rim or hoop C, to which they are attached by twisting or coiling their ends around the same. As above referred to, the strands of wires are bent at their centers, and interlocked at the center of the bottom of the basket; and from this point they are carried in opposite directions, and twisted together or interlaced with each other in pairs, so as to form open gures or meshes at the points of intersection. After the formation of the bottom, the wires are bent around a hoop or rim, D, and from thence they are passed in an upward direction, and twisted or interlaced withV each, until the top rim of the basket is reached, when their ends are secured. Between every pair of wire-strands extending from the center of the bottom of the basket are located two shorter strands of wire, I, which are formed by bending or doubling awire around the bottom hoop D, from whence the two parts are carried to the top hoop, theybeiug twisted around those wires which extend from the center of the bottom, in order to cause the meshes or openings in the body of the basket to be as close together as may be found expedient.

In the process of construction, a block or pattern is employed to serve as a guide or former for twisting the strands of the wire in a regular manner. The twisting operation is p erformedby suitable nippers or other implements.

After the basket is finished it is immersed into a molten bath of zinc or other metal, for the purpose of galvanizing the same, in order to prevent corrosion. The molten metal will also fill the spaces between the strands of wires at their points of intersection, or where they are twisted, thus soldering or securing the 'wires at these points, for preventing their separation in case a rupture or breakage of the wires should occur at any point.

In certain kinds of baskets we propose to use abase-rim, G, of additional interlaced or twisted wires, the ends of which wires are attached to the hoop D, and to abottom-supportinghoop, H.

A basket of this description does not rest directly upon the bottom, but upon the hoop, which, inI connection with the base-rim G, forms a standor support for the basket.

A basket constructed as above described is i admirably adapted` for different purposes,

Whether its strength or ornamental appearanee be taken into consideration; and, as half of the strands of wire composing the saine are Continuous from its center to the top rim, great strength is attained, as will be obvious.

Having thus described our invention, what We elainl as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent7 is- 1. A basket formed of strands of wire extending fioln the Center of the bottom of the same, and from a bottom hoop to a top rim, and twisted together in pairs, or interlaced with eaoh other, to form both the bottoni and body of the basket, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In combination with the twisted-Wire basket, the supporting-base G, of supplementary twisted Wires, attaohed to the hoops D H, substantialhv as herein set forth.

JAMES EDVVY OROOKER. VALTER G. GROOKEB. Vv'itnesses H. MACKINNON, HENRY JOSEPH. 

